The SP-810UZ is similar in size and specifications to the SP-800UZ but is newer and so has some additional technology benefits compared to its predecessor.

The primary differences between the two models are:

The SP-810UZ has a 36x zoom with a focal length of 4.3 mm to 154.8 mm (25 mm to 864 mm equivalent in 35 mm photography) compared to the SP-800UZ's 30x zoom with a focal length of 4.9 mm to 147 mm (28 mm to 840 mm equivalent in 35 mm photography).

The SP-810UZ is compatible with Eye-Fi ™ memory cards for wireless image transfer; the SP-800UZ is not compatible.

The SP-810UZ includes 10 Art Filters, adding Soft Focus, Punk, Sparkle, Watercolor, Reflection and Miniature to the four (Pop Art, Pin Hole, Drawing, Fish Eye) that are also available on the SP-800UZ.

Record modes allow photographers to quickly and conveniently vary the quality settings used to capture and save images in-camera. While it is possible to always shoot at the higher-quality settings and then process the images to lower file sizes later using a computer, it may be more convenient in some situations to shoot at other than the higher-quality settings. For example, it may be preferable to shoot using a lower-quality JPEG setting when the shot is intended for use on the Internet, where small file size is more important than rich detail.

JPEG is a compressed file format. When the camera processes a captured JPEG image and saves it to the memory card, it uses algorithms to discard some of the data to make the file smaller. The process of mathematically reducing a file’s size by discarding some of its data is called compression. When the image is opened on a computer, the JPEG algorithms reconstruct the discarded data.

JPEGs are useful because their quality settings can be manipulated from the camera menu. The two factors that comprise JPEG quality are image size and compression ratio.

Image size is determined by the number of pixels in the image. Larger files are measured in millions of pixels, or megapixels. The SP-810UZ offers the following options: 14M, 8M, 5M, 3M, 2M, 1M, VGA (640 x 480 pixels), 16:9L (4,288 x 2,416 pixels), and 16:9S (1,920 x 1,080 pixels). The VGA setting is useful for shooting low-resolution images for use on the Internet in such applications as online auction Web sites. The 16:9 settings are suitable for capturing images intended for playback on a wide-screen TV.

Shooting Modes govern what type of data (still image or movie) is recorded and how much control the photographer has over the camera settings and options while shooting. Some modes allow the photographer to configure some or all settings, while others automatically adjust the settings to suit a particular purpose.

The active shooting mode is indicated by an icon in the top right corner of the LCD. To change shooting modes, press the [MENU] button and then use the left and right arrow keys or the Wheel Controller to scroll through the available options. When the desired mode is selected, press the [OK] button to apply the mode.

Below are brief descriptions of each Shooting Mode:

P (Program shooting) – Gives the photographer the most control over factors that can affect how the finished image will appear. All settings in the menu can be modified. The most commonly used menu options appear on the LCD screen. To access the more detailed menu, scroll down to the last item on the screen — the SETUP option — and press the right arrow button on the Wheel Controller.

iAUTO (Intelligent AUTO) – Analyzes the shooting conditions and automatically selects settings optimized for the scene. (The camera dynamically chooses Portrait, Landscape, Night Portrait, Macro or Sport from the SCN mode.) Shooting menu settings are accessible, but the changed settings are not reflected in the shot.

SCN (Scene mode) – Automatically adjusts groups of settings to quickly optimize the camera for specific shooting conditions, called “scenes.” The SP-800UZ has 16 scenes. All of the settings controlled by the Scene mode can be configured individually in Program mode using the camera’s menu, but applying them manually can be time-consuming. In addition, novice photographers may not have a deep enough knowledge of photography to apply the appropriate settings that an advanced photographer would use.

MAGIC (MAGIC Art Filters mode) – Enables the photographer to apply special effects to images in-camera at the moment of shooting that might otherwise be done in post-processing with photo imaging software. The available filters are POP ART, PIN HOLE, FISH EYE, DRAWING, SOFT FOCUS, PUNK, WATERCOLOR and REFLECTION.

PANORAMA (Panorama mode)—Presents the photographer with three ways to capture panoramic images. The AUTO option allows the photographer to capture three images that the camera then stitches into one panoramic image. The MANUAL option gives the photographer more control over how the three images overlap and stitch in-camera into a single image. The PC option allows the photographer to shoot up to 10 images that can later be automatically stitched together on a computer using the [ib] software.

3D (3D Photo mode) – After shooting the first frame, a transparent image of the scene remains on the LCD screen. Overlap the subject with the image on the monitor. The next frame is captured. The camera stores both images and combines them in camera, resulting in an image with three-dimensional depth when viewed on 3D-compatible devices such as televisions or computer monitors.

The histogram gives photographers real-time feedback on the distribution of the light and dark tones in their images. It presents this information as a graph. The horizontal axis gives the tonal range -- that is, the degrees of brightness -- and the vertical axis shows the number of pixels of each tone in the image. The bars on the left side of the graph represent highlights; the bars on the right represent shadows.

If the bars on the extreme left of the graph are very tall relative to those in the rest of the graph, the image is overexposed and there may be a loss of detail in the brightest areas of the image. If the bars on the extreme right are very tall, the image is underexposed and there may be a loss of detail in the darkest areas of the image. A balanced image will have a relatively even distribution of light and dark pixels, although photographers may choose to intentionally over- or underexpose a shot for creative or dramatic effect.

Photographers may adjust settings such as Exposure Compensation and Shadow Adjustment prior to shooting or reshooting to ensure that the tonal range of the histogram reflects the mood they wish to capture.

The histogram is one of several shooting information options that can be displayed on the LCD screen. Press the [INFO]button to shuffle through the options. (The number of screens depends on how many information display options have been enabled from the customization menu.)

The camera can also show the histogram of a captured image in the Playback Mode if this option has been enabled from the custom menu.

To enable the histogram in Playback Mode, first enable the custom menu. The next step is to enable the histogram. Press [MENU], and scroll to the menu. Use the arrow keys to select /Info Settings, and then press [OK]. Select Info, and then press [OK]. Select the histogram icon, and then press [OK]. Finally, select ON and press [OK]. The histogram will then be enabled for Playback mode.

To use the histogram in Playback mode, place the camera in Playback mode and then press [INFO] until the histogram appears. Press [INFO] again to exit the histogram view.

Turn the camera upside-down and open the battery compartment door. (The door will swing up toward the center of the camera.)

Push the battery lock knob in the direction of the arrow shown below.

Insert the battery into the camera as shown. When the battery is properly oriented, the black stripe with the white arrows will be to the left of the OLYMPUS label and the arrows will point down into the camera. The OLYMPUS label will face the same direction as the LCD monitor.

Push the battery gently into the camera until it clicks. The battery lock knob will snap into place.

Close the battery compartment door.

Note: If the LI-50B battery is improperly oriented when it is inserted into the camera, the camera will not power on.

The battery may be dead or underpowered. If the battery is completely drained, the camera will not power on when the Power button is pressed. If the battery is nearly drained, the camera may briefly display a Battery Empty error message and then power off, or it may power on and then quickly power off without displaying the error. In either case, charge the battery using the charger bundled with the camera. Be sure to properly align the arrows on the bundled battery with the arrow on the battery charger, and take care to see that the "+" and "-" signs align properly. If the battery is inserted improperly, the battery will not be charged. Please&nbsp;see "How do I insert the LI-50B lithium-ion battery into the camera?"